First Green Bank Foundation Awards Two More Grants for Solar Energy Systems

MOUNT DORA, Fla. --- First Green Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of Lake County-based First Green Bank, recently awarded two grants of $1,000 each to businesses and individuals who want to develop solar energy systems for their businesses or homes. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said the First Green Bank Foundation awarded a grant to Bowen Radson & Schroth, a law firm in Eustis a 20-kilowatt solar energy system. LaRoe said First Green Bank Foundation awarded another grant to Bob Cirone who owns a storage facility in Winter Garden and is developing a 20 -kw solar energy system there. The First Green Bank Foundation has awarded grants to support four solar energy projects, LaRoe said.

Emerson International closes on four new office leases that total more than 4,000 square feet

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Emerson International recently closed on four new office lease agreements that total more than 4,000 square feet of space in Orlando, Longwood and Altamonte Springs. Kenneth Koch, director of leasing at Emerson International, negotiated two lease agreements in Orlando and Longwood representing Emerson as landlord. Beacon Enterprises leased 971 square feet in the Major Plaza building on Major Blvd. off Kirkman Rd. near the I-Drive tourism corridor in southwest Orlando. RDL Development, LLC, leased 1,322 square feet of office space in the Sanlando Office Center on West SR 434 in Longwood. Zac Starkey, Commercial leasing associate at Emerson International, negotiated two lease agreements in Altamonte Springs at CenterPointe Office Park. Brad Central Business Group, Inc. leased 700 square feet of office space and the Together We Are Better Foundation, Inc. leased 1,054 square feet at CenterPointe Office Park.

M/I Homes starts development of four new communities in St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Apopka and South Seminole County

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- M/I Homes has started development of four new communities in St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Apopka and south Seminole County. David Byrnes, area president for M/I Homes in Central Florida, said development will be completed by early fall through early winter. The new developments include Narcoossee Village in St. Cloud, located off Jack Brack Road, east of Narcoossee Rd. with the first phase comprising 93 home sites and second phase 106 home sites totaling 199 home sites, Byrnes said. Narcoossee Village will begin selling Oct. 13 with homes priced from $225,000 and ranging in size from 1,900 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet. Another new community is the Enclave at Bear Lake, located off Bear Lake Road and Maitland Blvd. in Seminole County. Byrnes said there will be 35 home sites at the Enclave at Bear Lake with pre-sales starting in August. Homes will start from $239,000 and range from 1,900 square feet of living space to 2,700 square feet. Hickory Hammock is another new community M/I Homes has under development located off Marsh Road in Winter Garden. In phase one there will be 54 home sites, Byrnes explained, and sales will start in December of new homes priced from $299,000 and ranging from 2,800 to 5,200 square feet of living area. M/I Homes is also developing Magnolia Park Estates located off Park Meadow Drive and Ocoee-Apopka Road in Apopka. Byrnes said the homebuilder is offering 32 home sites in Magnolia Park Estates with sales starting in August for homes priced from $229,000 and ranging in size from 2,100 square feet of living area to 5,200 square feet. M/I Homes is now active in nine communities in Central Florida and with the new communities will offer home buyers distinctively designed homes in 13 communities.

More than two years of effort plus renovation to lease 13,771 square feet of Class A office space at Crystal Center in Lake Mary

MAITLAND, Fla. – It took more than two years of effort by NAI Realvest in Maitland to lease up most of the remaining space at Crystal Center at 3300 West Lake Mary Blvd. in Lake Mary, but the effort was worth it. Senior Broker-Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM recently negotiated two new lease agreements that total 13,771 square feet of Class A office space at the Crystal Center to the Nemours Foundation and to J.D. Insurance & Financial Group. Now the building is 95 percent leased. West said the biggest problem was the struggling economy. “Costar posted a 19 percent vacancy rate for the first quarter of this year in the Lake Mary submarket and we’re in recovery mode,” West explained. During the same period, Lake Mary showed a 50,000 square foot negative absorption rate, meaning more tenants vacated the Lake Mary submarket than moved into Lake Mary. West said she was able to convince the landlord, Maya Associates, LLC of Okemos, Mich., to renovate the building lobby along with the second floor landing and seal and repair the exterior of the building. The owner was forward-thinking and dropped the rental rate to below market to accelerate occupancy to cost conscious tenants.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Office Lease for Wellness Center in Building B at La Vina Office at Lake Nona–Level 2 now is 94 Percent Leased

ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for professional office space in Building B of La Vina Office at Lake Nona, 9161 Narcoossee Rd. in East Orlando. Mary Frances West, CCIM senior broker associate at NAI Realvest, negotiated the lease of suite B208 with 1,610 square feet representing the landlord Orlando-based Ripley’s International, LLC. The tenant is NU Wellness, LLC d/b/a Progressive Wellness Medical Center is the tenant. The 21,028 square foot second floor of Building B is now 94 percent leased. West added that there is lease proposal pending on Suite B104 – the only remaining suite on the second floor at La Vina Office a Lake Nona.

NAI Realvest negotiates sales of industrial properties in Sanford Totaling More than $686,000

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sales of two industrial properties totaling $686,400 in Sanford. Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest negotiated both transactions representing the sellers. McWeeney-Smith Real Estate Partnership of Orlando sold a 12,000 square foot office-warehouse building at 751 Central Park Drive in Sanford’s Central Florida Industrial Park for $600,000 to Space Port USA, Inc. The buyer was represented by David Hammett of CRE Advisors. Heidrich brokered the sale of a 1,350 square foot industrial condo at 4240 Church St. in Monroe CommerCenter IV representing the seller/developer Small Bay Partners, LLC of Maitland. The buyer, Longwood-based FC Management Consulting, LLC paid $86,400 for the condo in shell condition.

Celebration Golf Management names Anukul Hampton Executive Chef at Stonegate Golf Club in Solivita, promotes Michele Woods to Banquet Chef Supervisor

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Celebration Golf Management has appointed Anukul Hampton executive chef at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita in Kissimmee. Arto Rahmani, general manager of Solivita Club services and vice president of food and beverage operations for Celebration Golf Management, said Hampton has more than 14 years of hospitality experience. Hampton has been featured in Orlando Home and Leisure magazine and served as signature chef at the Central Florida Restaurant Forum Magazine Taste of the Nation exposition. “Chef Anukul is a highly skilled professional with an excellent sense of timing and taste,” Rahmani said. “He possesses just the right mix of experience and creativity and we’re sure he’s going to be a big hit with our guests,” Rahmani said. Rahmani also promoted Michele Woods to banquet chef supervisor at Mosaics Restaurant at Solivita. Woods joined Celebration Golf Management two years ago as banquet cook. “Michele Woods is a great leader who is very detail-oriented with strong organizational and communication skills, and that’s what our guests at Solivita deserve,” Rahmani said.

Orange County National Golf Center promotes two to Top Management Positions

Winter Garden, Fla. --- The Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden recently promoted Toby Krause to assistant general manager of the award winning facility. Tano Malentin, general manager at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge, said Krause joined the staff at Orange County National in March of last year as an assistant in the pro shop. Most recently Krause served as event manager. “Over the last year Toby has demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills,” Malentin said. His passion to make a success of the Orange County National brand will serve him well and we look forward to many good things from him,” Malentin added. Malentin also promoted Kevin Naylor to golf shop and events supervisor. Naylor joined Orange County National last year and most recently served as golf shop supervisor. “Since taking over as golf shop supervisor, Kevin’s organizational and customer service skills have grown dramatically,” Malentin said. “He has gone above and beyond many times to assist the event team to help turn well-run events into excellent tournament experiences,” he said..

Park Square Homes Unveils New Augusta Luxury Town Home at Gated Waters Edge at Lake Nona

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes has taken its trademark open space design theme to the next level with its new three-bedroom Augusta model town home at Waters Edge at Lake Nona in southeast Orlando. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said the Augusta model town home was designed for smart couples and professional singles who might be juggling careers, education and starter families, or planning to. “For young professional families, efficient design is a high value feature,” Rouhana said. With 1,861 square feet of living space and two-and-a-half baths, the Augusta is Park Square’s largest town home design. It’s than Park Square’s Belmont and Cambridge town home floor plans at Waters Edge. An open kitchen that serves a dining room and family room turns square footage into smart family living and social space accented by the Augusta’s courtyards or patio, Rouhana explained. “The Augusta is a smart lifestyle,” Rouhana said. “We think it will prove to be one of our most popular town home designs,” he said.

Park Square Homes to host Realtors June 5 at Prairie Lake Reserve Open House

ORLANDO, Fla. – Park Square Homes will host an open house for Realtors from Noon to 2 p.m. at Prairie Lake Reserve its gated town home community located off A.D. Mims Road and Clarke Road in Ocoee. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said two models will be showcased at the event. Rouhana said Park Square Homes recently opened a new phase at Prairie Lake Reserve for town homes that range from 1,652 square feet of living area to 1,785 square feet with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. Town homes in the new phase start from the $150s and currently there are 30 available, Rouhana said. Amenities at Prairie Lake Reserve include a community swimming pool, clubhouse and children’s playground. Visit www.parksquarehomes.com